Record changer spindle



Aug. 15, 1944. w. J. FAULKNER RECORD CHANGER SPINDLE Filed Feb. 24, 1941 4 INVENIOR. WILL ARD 2/ FA ULKNER BY T I j ATTO/Q/VEYfi.

Patented Aug. 15, 1944 RECORD CHANGER SPINDLE Willard J. Faulkner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Advance Engineering Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnership comprising K. D. Turner, John Huarisa, L. 0. Parks, and J. H. Cllppinger Application February 24, 1941, Serial No. 380,248

9 ,Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic phonograph mechanism, and more particularly to an improved record changer spindle therefor.

The device of the present invention is particularly applicable to record changers where the records are supported at their centers on a stationary spindle which is provided with an offset head therefor, and at the edgesby a mechanism which also causes the ejection of the bottom-most record of the stack such as is exemplified in the co-pending application of Arnold Leline, filed January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,179.

Obviously the invention is also applicable to record changers where the ejecting is done at the center post itself of which several of such mechanisms are now available on the market, and to those types having the divided center post where the upper part is stationary and is suspended over the lower revolving spindle.

In the type of record changer above mentioned it often occurs that the bottom-most record,

' especially when there is only one record left in the stack of unplayed records, due to vibration, slides over on the spindle head and is dropped prematurely.

By my present invention I securely hold the bottom-most record of the stack against displacement and premature droppage.

Other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawing and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of my invention with certain hidden parts being shown by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the spindle rotated 90;

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are likewise similar views of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of my invention as applied to the divided type of center post.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 7 of another embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing throughout which like parts have been designated by like reference characters, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and '2, I indicates the lower end of a spindle such as is illustrated in the said Leline application, and which is adapted to be locked in stationary engagement through the rotatable spindle, in-the frame. The spindle tapers at 2 toward a head 3, which headis of slightly smaller diameterthan the center record hole. The upper surface of the head is fiat at 4 adapted to provide a support for the bottom record. Ex-

, tending upward from the head for a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a standard record, is a neck 5. This neck has one side I which is curved and is in the same plane as the periphery of the head 4, while the other side 8 is curved in a plane in prolongation with a top spindle portion 9. Extending upwardly from the neck and supported thereby is the top spindle portion 9 which comprises a lower portion adja- I cent the neck that is substantially cylindrical II in spring.

and gradually tapers at Ill towards a blunt terminal end to permit ready placement of the records thereon.

Means is provided for holding the bottom-most record on the head 4 and with the edge of the hole in engagement with the side 8 of the neck to prevent accidental and premature discharge of the bottom-most record of the stack. In carrying out the improvement of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a longitudinally extending kerf ii. in the upper portion 9lil of the spindle, as best illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. This slot is relatively shallow at E3 and a spring member it is secured therein by rivets or by rolling over the metal adjacent the edge of the slot against the The spring extends downwardly in spaced parallel relation to the neck surface i and terminates in a curved end it). The spring may be pressed inwardly toward the neck portion l by the inside edge of the record hole to permit the record to be slid on the head and the hole in the record to be aligned with the head 3.

In operation the records are stacked on the spindle, the bottom-most record resting on the head 4 and this bottom record is held over against the portion 8 of the neck by the spring M which engages the opposite inside edge of the record. The spring is of sufficient resiliency so that it may be easily bent when the record is displaced as shown and described in the afore-mentioned co-pending application, but still is sufficiently stiff to present accidental displacement thereof. When the record is slid over on the spindle head 4 until the hole is in alignment with the head 4, it readily drops down around the spindle l.

Figs. 3 and 4 show another modification of the invention wherein the kerf I2 is substantially larger and deeper than those previously described. A lever member 20 is disposed in the kert being pivotally secured at its upper end in the spindle by a cross pin 2|. A spring 22 is disposed in the bottom of the kert for urging the lever outward. The end 23 o! the lever may be rounded substantially as shown and provided with an extension 25 adapted to enter into an opening in the spindle below the head. This extension may be eliminated i1 desired.

In Figs. and 6 I show another modification where the kerf is provided at 30 in the lower spindle body just below the head 4, the lever in this instance taking a form corresponding to the contour of the body, as shown best at 3| in Fig. 5. The lever is pivotally secured in the kerf by a pin 32, and the end of the lever is provided with a stub 33 extending below the pivot. A spring 34 bears against this stub, the other end of the spring being in engagement with the wall 35.

In Fig. '7 I have shown my invention applied to a changer having a divided type of record holding spindle. In this type the lower spindle 40 may turn with the turntable. In this instance the stack of records is held by the stationary depending spindle 4| which is in turn supported by the arm 42 ofiset to the revolving spindle. The end of the stationary spindle has a head 43 spaced from the spindle body by a neck 44. The head 43 is in alignment with the revolving spin: dle and supports the records in a manner similar to that previously described. The stationary spindle body 4| is provided with a kerf 45 in which is secured the spring 46. With the exception of the loading of the records on the spindle, the operation of this modification is substantially the same as that previously described in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 8 I have shown another modification of the invention wherein there is provided the arm 42 supporting a stationary spindle 4| having the head 43 connected thereto by the neck 44. The head 43 is offset relative to the body 4| of the spindle and in alignment with the revolved spindle 40. The spring 46 in the embodiment of Fig. 7 is, however, replaced by a lever 48 in this instance which is disposed within a kerf 49 extending'longitudinally' of the stationary spindle, the lever being provided at 50. Spring means 52 is provided for urging the lever outward to the position shown in Fig. 8. The lever is provided with an extension 5| which extends through an opening in the arm 42 and is adapted to be grasped by the finger to facilitate the loading of the records on thespindle.

Still other modifications of the invention will be apparent to those versed in the art and it is not my intention to limit the invention to any particular embodiment shown, the description being for the purpose of illustration only.

I claim:

1. A stationary spindle for supporting a stack of records adjacent their center holes comprising a lower body portion arranged to extend thnough a turntable spindle and to be non-rotatably supported relative thereto, a shoulder on said body for engagement with the bottom record of the stack, a second upper body extending in prolongation from said first body and having an oil- 'set portion for retaining the records in a stack, a neck for integrally connecting said parts having a length greater than the thickness of a. record,

, and means for engaging the bottom-most record of said stack and holding it against said neck comprising a resilient member carried by said upper body.-

2; A stationary spindle for supporting a stack of records adjacent their center holes comprising a lower body p rtion arranged to extend through a turntable spindle and to be non-rotatably supported relative thereto, a shoulder on the upper end or said body for engagement with the bottom record of the stack. a. second body extending upward in prolongation ifrom said first body and axially offset from said first body for holding the records in alignment, a neck for integrally connecting said parts being of a length substantially the thickness of a record, and resilient means for engaging the bottom-most record and holding it against said neck including a lever pivotally secured in said upper body and spring means for a turntable spindle and to be non-rotatably supported relative thereto, a shoulder on the upper end of said body for engagement with ,the bottom record of the stack, a second body extending upward in prolongation from said firstbody and axially offset from said first body for holding the records in alignment, a neck for integrally connecting said parts being of a length substantially the thickness of a record, and resilient means for engaging the bottom-most record and holding it against said neck in alignment with the remaining records of the stack, said resilient means including a lever pivotally carried by said body and a spring urging said lever outward and stop means on said lever engageable with said body limiting the outward movement thereof.

4. A stationary spindle for holding a stack of records adjacent their center holes comprising a lower body portion arranged to be supported concentric to a turntable spindle, a shoulder on the upper end of said body for engagement with the bottom record of the stack, a second body extending upward in prolongation from said first body and axially offset from said first body for holding the records in alignment, a neck for integrally connecting said parts being of a length substantially the thickness of a record, and means for engaging the bottom-most record and holding it against said neck in alignment with the remaining records of the stack, said upper body being formed to provide a longitudinally extending kerf, a lever disposed in said kerf and pivotally secured therein, stop means on the lever engageable with the body to limit the outward movement or the lever, and spring means for urging the lever outward against the inside of the hole in said record. v

5. A record changer spindle for supporting a stack of records at their center holes comprising a lower spindle body portion arranged to be sup-, ported concentric to a turntable, a head on the upper end of said body for supporting the bottom record of the stack adjacent the center hole, a neck extending upward from said body being of a length substantially the thickness of a record, an extension for said spindle connected to said neck and extending upward in prolongation of the spindle and axially ofiset relative thereto for holding a stack of records out of alignment with said lower spindle body, said bottom-most record being slidable on said head against said neck to bring the center record hole in alignment with the lower body portion, and means for holding said lower-most record in alignment with said top spindle portion comprising a spring carried by the spindle and extending downward in prolongation of the top spindle portion spaced from said neck.

6. A spindle for holding a stack of records comprising a lower body portion for extending above a turntable, a head on the upper end of said body for contact with the records on the end of the body, an offset extension above said body and integrally connected to said body by a neck portion, said extension being formed to provide a kerf extending longitudinally thereof and opening at the end toward the said neck portion, means for engaging the lower-most record and holding it against accidental alignment with said head comprising a spring member secured in said kerf and extending downward out of said keri spaced from said neck and in a plane in prolongation of said extension.

7. A record holding spindle for a phonograph having a turntable, comprising a base portion adapted to be held against rotation by means disposed below the turntable, a shank projecting above the turntable and having a portion for guiding records onto the turntable, a head on the end of the shank and a neck portion extending upwardly from the head, an extension integrally connected by said neck to said shank and eccentrically disposed relative thereto, said neck portion being of a thickness substantially the thickness of a record and spring means carried by the extension and extending opposite said neck for holding the bottom record on said head.

8. A record-holding spindle for a phonograph comprising a base portion adapted to be held against axial and rotatable movement concentric to a turntable, and having a shoulder formed on the upper end of the base, an end portion extending in prolongation of the base portion and offset relative thereto, and a neck having a length substantially the thickness of a record integrally connecting said base and extended portions, said extension having a kerf formed longitudinally therein and spring means disposed in said kerf and extending opposite said neck part and arranged to press against the side of a record hole, to hold said record in spring pressed relation against said neck and on said shoulder.

9. A record holding spindle for a phonograph comprising a base portion adapted to be held against axial and rotatable movement concentric to a turntable having a shank and extending above said turntable, said shank being formed ,with a shoulder on the upper end thereof and concentric thereto, an end portion extending in prolongation of the shank and offset axially thereto, and a neck having a length substantially the thickness of a record integrally connecting said base and extended portions and having opposite sides disposed in separate planes common to each of the connected portions, and spring means carried by said extension and extending oppositev said neck arranged to press against the side of a record hole, to hold said record in spring pressed relation against said neck and on said shoulder, said shank being tapered toward said shoulder to provide clearance space for the side of the record hole.

WILLARD J. FAUIKNER.

'of the above huixb ered patent requiring correction as follows:

Sm Letters Patent should be read with this 0 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION; Patent No. 2,355,790. August 15, 19M.

' WILLARD J. FAULKNER.

ed that error appears in the printed specification It is hereby" certifi Page 2, first column, line 67 ,claim 1, after the word "on" insert --the upper end of"; after "extending" insert -upWard-; and that the line 69, same claim;

orrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21pm da of October, A. D. 19%.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

